Help wanted:"Citizen Journalists"

(Revised 8/15/05)

Pegasus News depends on contributions from its readers. Although our staff of professional journalists will cover traditional news stories, we know that our readers usually “know more than we do” and may want to share their expertise with the entire community. Therefore, we would like to give our readers a voice by allowing them to participate as “citizen journalists” who will submit stories, columns, audio and video on subjects about which they are most passionate.

Because Pegasus News will not be constrained by print space limitations, we have the ability to write about niche topics that traditional media may not cover. For example, parents will be able to receive stories and pictures from their kids’ youth sports leagues, and local jazz aficionados will receive regular articles about the local jazz scene. As a result, citizen journalists should write for an audience comprised of readers with a strong interest in a given topic. In other words, we are not seeking “surface level” articles written for a general audience. If you write about SMU football, we want in-depth analysis of gameplans and depth charts. If you write about the Frisco city council, we want detailed descriptions and analysis of the meetings.

If you are interested in writing, please submit to citizens@pegasusnews.com a writing sample, a description of the subject area you would like to write about, and a brief explanation as to why you are qualified to write about the topic. It is perfectly acceptable to say that even though you are an insurance adjuster, your true passion is rugby. It is also acceptable to write about topics in which you have a personal stake, such as politics or your industry, so long as that is clearly disclosed in the items submitted. Our readers will be able to comment on any Pegasus News story, so it is in all of our writers’ best interests to be open about their intentions rather than have a reader point out any hidden agendas. 

Although we will gladly accept citizen journalist articles on any family-safe topic, in the continuation is a list of topics in which we particularly desire contributions from our readers. Please note that we are most interested in things that are inherently local, and those items will be displayed most prominently on our site.

ART AND MUSIC

All genres of music, including coverage of local and non-local artists, trends, and reviews of concerts and albums.

All local symphony orchestras and classical music ensembles, including professional, high school, middle school and elementary school orchestras. 

Theater and musicals, including coverage of high school, middle school and elementary school productions. 

Art and sculpture, including the Dallas Museum of Fine Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and all other local galleries and exhibits.

All local ballet, dance, opera, choir and chorale, including high school, middle school and elementary school productions. 

Film.

Photography. 

Any other high school, middle school and elementary school art and music productions not listed above. 

Any other art and music topics not listed above. 

BUSINESS

All industries, including venture capital; banking and lending; telecommunications; software; computer hardware and gadgets; the internet; internet connectivity and broadband; hotels; restaurants and bars; conventions; airlines; airports; sports business; health care and pharmaceuticals; media of all types; commercial and residential real estate; cars; car dealers; law, accounting and consulting firms; marketing, advertising and public relations; aerospace and defense; retail; oil and energy; engineering; industrial manufacturing; insurance companies; and non-profit organizations. 

Personal finance advice and information, including taxes, investing and borrowing. 

Stock market analysis. 

Analysis of the economy from macro and micro perspectives. 

Reviews of business books. 

Organization-specific news and announcements. 

Any other business topics not listed above. 

GENERAL INTEREST

Recipes and cooking – all topics. 

Home and garden – all topics. 

Religion and individual religions – all topics. 

Pets – all topics. 

Radio, television and other media – all topics. 

Kids, seniors and families – all topics. 

Science – all topics. 

Travel – all topics. 

Fashion – all topics. 

Architecture – all topics. 

Books – all topics. 

Video games – all topics. 

Computers – all topics. 

Cars – all topics. 

Health and exercise – all topics. 

Shopping – all topics. 

Horoscopes. 

Advice columns.

Humor columns.

Any other general interest topic not listed above.

LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND EVENTS

Coverage of neighborhood association and community group meetings throughout the area. 

Opinion pieces with respect to local, state, national and international issues and events. 

Issues pertaining to specific ethnic groups. 

Issues pertaining to specific religious groups. 

Gay and lesbian issues. 

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

All area county government, city councils and political bodies, including the County Commissioner’s Court.

 

The Texas legislature and Texas state government.

 

The local congressional delegation and national politics. 

All local elections, including all area mayoral, city council, Texas legislature and congressional races.

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

All area school boards. 

All area high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. 

All area colleges. 

Sports

Football: 

NFL football – all topics, including the Cowboys, the league as a whole, game and player analysis, fantasy football, draft analysis, and pregame and postgame analysis from a point-spread perspective.

Arena football – all topics, including the Desperados. 

College football – all topics, including all schools, all conferences, game and player analysis, recruiting, and pregame and postgame analysis from a point-spread perspective. 

High school football – all topics, including coverage of all local high schools. 

Club, youth and recreational league football – coverage of all clubs and leagues. 

Basketball: 

NBA basketball – all topics, including the Mavericks, the league as a whole, game and player analysis, fantasy basketball, and draft analysis. 

WNBA basketball – all topics. 

Men’s college basketball – all topics, including all schools, all conferences, game and player analysis, and recruiting. 

Women’s college basketball – all topics, including all schools, all conferences, game and player analysis, and recruiting. 

Boys’ high school basketball – all topics, including coverage of all local high schools. 

Girls’ high school basketball – all topics, including coverage of all local high schools. 

Club, youth and recreational league basketball – coverage of all clubs and leagues. 

Baseball: 

MLB baseball – all topics, including the Rangers, the league as a whole, game and player analysis, fantasy/rotisserie baseball, and draft analysis. 

Minor league baseball – all topics, including the Roughriders, all minor leagues and levels, and game and player analysis. 

College baseball – all topics, including all schools, all conferences, game and player analysis, and recruiting. 

High school baseball – all topics, including coverage of all local high schools. 

Club, youth and recreational league baseball – coverage of all clubs and leagues. 

Hockey: 

NHL hockey – all topics, including the Stars, the league as a whole, game and player analysis, fantasy hockey, and draft analysis. 

Minor league hockey – all topics, including all minor leagues and levels, and game and player analysis. 

College hockey – all topics, including all schools, all conferences, game and player analysis, and recruiting. 

High school hockey – all topics, including coverage of all local high schools. 

Club, youth and recreational league hockey – coverage of all clubs and leagues. 

Soccer: 

All soccer topics for both genders, including U.S. national teams, MLS soccer (including FC Dallas), professional women’s soccer, foreign leagues, indoor soccer, the Dallas Cup, college soccer, high school soccer, and club, youth and recreational leagues. 

Golf: 

All golf topics for both genders, including all professional tours, college golf, high school golf, club, youth and recreational golf, and course and equipment analysis. 

Tennis: 

All tennis topics for both genders, including all professional tours, college tennis, high school tennis, club, youth and recreational tennis, and equipment analysis. 

Auto Racing: 

All auto racing topics, including NASCAR, IRL, other professional circuits, and drag racing. 

Horse Racing:

All horse racing topics, including Lone Star Park, national races, and handicapping analysis.

 

Lacrosse: 

All lacrosse topics for both genders, including professional leagues, college lacrosse, high school lacrosse, and club, youth and recreational lacrosse.

Softball:

All softball topics for both genders, including college softball, high school softball, and club, youth and recreational softball. 

Wrestling: 

All wrestling topics, including professional, college, high school, and youth wrestling. 

Boxing: 

All boxing topics, including professional, amateur and youth boxing. 

Figure skating:

All figure skating topics, including professional, amateur and youth figure skating. 

Gymnastics: 

All gymnastics topics, including amateur, college and youth gymnastics. 

Track and Field: 

All track and field topics, including professional, college, high school, and youth track and field. 

Running: 

All running topics, including professional, college, and high school running, and club, youth and recreational running. 

Swimming and Diving: 

All swimming and diving topics, including amateur, college, high school, club and youth swimming. 

Volleyball: 

All volleyball topics, including professional beach volleyball, college and high school volleyball, and club, youth and recreational volleyball. 

Bowling: 

All bowling topics, including professional, college, high school, and recreational bowling leagues. 

Other Topics: 

All fantasy sports not listed above. 

Television and radio broadcast analysis. 

Other sports, including cycling, weightlifting, water polo, field hockey, fencing, crew, rodeo, martial arts, hunting and fishing, poker, cheerleading, skiing, wheelchair sports, extreme sports, rugby, cricket, polo, chess, equestrian, table tennis, ultimate frisbee, and badminton. 

Any other sports or sports-related topics not listed above.

 

Comments

[Amanda Deats]

I found our site on the JournalismJobs.com website, and have been on it for hours. I think it's great what you're doing. I haven't officially applied because I have no experience in Advertising, and I don't think I could be Curator-in-Chief, but I would love if I could help with the writing or even some copy editing.

I have experience in copy editing for a Texas newspaper and I interned at CitySearch.com.

I'll send you my resume.

[Len LaCara]

I like the new logo. And I love this list, which would be a great reference point for any enterprise aspiring to hyper-local-local coverage.